Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo’s quest to become the fourth professional athlete to qualify for the US Open was cut short on Monday.

After the horn blew for the second time, Romo, who fired a first-round one-under 71, withdrew from the weather-delayed 36-hole US Open qualifier at The Club at Carlton Woods near Houston.

With players set to finish their second rounds on Tuesday, Romo had to return to Dallas because he was obligated to return and practice with the Cowboys.

“It was fun, it was enjoyable and I made a good run at it,” he said. “It’s exciting to be competing, it’s fun to teach yourself lessons on the golf course about sports in general. I took away a few things that I’m going to use in football, so that’s a positive in that respect.”

In the first 18, he rebounded from a triple-bogey on the fourth hole to salvage his round, putting him four shots behind the leader, Casey Clendenon. When the players were called in the second time, Romo had played three holes, which included an opening quadruple-bogey. Had he not withdrawn, he would have needed a near miracle to place in the top two for a trip to Pebble Beach.

Fear not, Romo-football fans, the man doesn’t have aspirations to become a dual-athlete a la Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders.

“It’s hard for me to think about doing something else at a high, high level,” Romo said. “It’s fun to go out here on a day and compete and try and win on a day. But I don’t know if I could put in the time that would be needed to play or compete at that level, day in and day out.”

I’m not exactly the biggest Cowboys (actually, I hate them) or Romo fan, but I have much respect for the guy’s golf game. It’s not easy to win a playoff to make the sectional qualifying for the US Open, let alone after firing 68 to get into the situation. So, well done, Romo. Hope he qualifies next year or tries to do the Monday-qualifier again this summer — but that damn football commitment will probably hinder him.